New priorities added to Police Covenant pledge

24 May 2023

West Mercia Police Federation chair Barry Horton has welcomed an update from the Police Covenant Oversight Board (PCOB) in which three new areas of work are outlined.

The PCOB said the three additional priorities were a reflection of the rapidly changing nature of police work.

The primary focus of the Covenant has always been ensuring the health and wellbeing of serving and former police officers, their physical protection and the support required by their families. 

It was initially based on 11 key priorities agreed within the parameters set out in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. 

But three extra priorities have now been added to the list.

They are:

• To identify and implement a package of measures for individuals who have left the police workforce.
• To scope the current support in place in relation to healthcare pathways for the police workforce through further NHS Engagement
• To consider wider issues around police officer and staff safety at the roadside and propose non legislative options to improve safety

A spokesman said: “The Oversight Board will continue to review all priorities throughout the year to consider any further points to add, or the potential combining of priorities.”

Responding to the update, Barry said: “The Police Covenant is close to our hearts because it is a formal recognition of the sacrifice we expect our officers and their families to make.

“The Police Federation worked hard to ensure it was adopted as part of the 2022 Act and we are pleased that it is evolving along with the ever-changing nature of policing.”

Of the original eleven priorities, three have now been completed and signed off by the PCOB.

The work under the Covenant to consider the issues raised in the Officer and Staff Safety Review have been met through the changes to legislation around assaults on emergency workers brought in by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. 

The workstream to support forces to put in place Operation Hampshire relating to assaults against officers and staff has also been implemented, with data collection on these assaults now a key part of recording practices.

And the third and final completed area of work is the inclusion of mental health training for new officers in initial training, as part of the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) developed by the College of Policing.